FAQs
Today a severe shortage of organs for transplantation exists in our country. Despite continuing efforts at public education, misconceptions and inaccuracies about donation persist. It is a tragedy if even one person decides against donation because they do not know the truth. The following is a list of the most common questions about organ and tissue donation.
Organ Donation
If emergency room doctors know you're an organ donor, will they work as hard to save you?
If you are sick or injured and admitted to the hospital, the number one priority is to save your life. Organ and tissue recovery takes place only after all efforts to save your life have been exhausted and death has been legally declared. The medical team treating you is completely separate from the organ recovery team.
Am I too old to be a donor?
People of all ages and medical histories will be considered as potential donors. Your medical condition at the time of death will determine which organs and tissue can be donated, not your age. Don't rule yourself out as a potential donor due to age, let the medical professionals determine if you are a suitable candidate.
Does my family have to pay for organ and tissue donation?
The donor family is never billed for expenses related to donation. LifeShare pays for all procedures, tests or evaluations needed following legal death for the donation process. Funeral costs remain the responsibility of the family.
Does organ and tissue donation disfigure the body or change the way it looks in the casket?
LifeShare works closely with all state funeral homes to implement the best practices and techniques in donation with the hope of returning your loved one to you with minimal, if any, change to their appearance.
Do celebrities and people with money get transplanted more quickly than those without?
Matching organs to recipients is based strictly on medical criteria and has nothing to do with notoriety or wealth. The process for matching a recipient with a donor is dependent upon how sick an individual is and who is the best match for the organ.
Do some religions prohibit donation?
All major organized religions approve of organ and tissue donation and consider it an act of charity.
Can your family override your wish to be a donor?
Because of our state's First Person Consent law, it is not necessary to get permission from the family if a person has expressed his or her desire to be a donor in a "document of gift", such as a driver's license, state ID card or enrollment in Oklahoma's online donor registry, the LifeShare Donor Registry. We strongly believe that a person's wish to donate must be honored, if medically possible. Organ and tissue recovery coordinators will always talk to the family about the donation before it takes place. Oklahomans are urged to share their decision to be a donor with their families.
If you are under 18, you may declare your intent to be a donor in any document of gift, however, permission from a parent or guardian must be obtained before donation can actually take place.
Does registering as a donor change my patient care?
Your life always comes first. Doctors work hard to save every patient’s life, but sometimes there is a complete and irreversible loss of brain function or an injury that is not survivable. The patient is declared clinically and legally dead. Only then is donation an option.
Why is it important for people of every community to donate?
Although donation and transplantation can take place successfully between individuals from different racial or ethnic groups, transplant success is often better when organs are matched between people of the same racial or ethnic background.
People of African American/Black, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native and multiracial descent currently make up nearly 58% of individuals on the national organ transplant waiting list. These communities are in great need of more organ and tissue donors.
How do I update my Registration?
- Go to a Licensed Operator or Service Oklahoma Location and receive a new license where you select no/skip
- Visit LifeShareRegistry.org, Register as a donor and then log back in and remove yourself from the registry.
Our team is available to assist you through this process. Please email us at Communications@LifeShareOK.org.
Tissue Donation
How do I know if my loved one is eligible to donate?
We work closely with all the hospitals in the state of Oklahoma to ensure your loved one is eligible.
Why are you calling so soon after my loved one passes?
Tissue is only viable for a short time after death to be eligible for transplantation. We only have short window of time to discuss donation and once authorization is received, we work quickly to coordinate the recovery process.
The Medical Examiner has requested to investigate my loved ones passing. Can they still donate?
We work closely with the Medical Examiner’s office to ensure both organizations can fulfill their duties. Tissue recovery does not interfere with the Medical Examiner’s investigation.
Are the additional costs that I will incur if my loved one is a tissue donor?
Costs associated with donation are covered by LifeShare. The only financial responsibility of you and your family is hospital costs not associated with donation as well as funeral arrangement costs. If you are having a hard time finding a funeral home or would like more information on whole body donation options, please contact the family specialist that you spoke with for more information.
Does recovery happen at the hospital or somewhere else?
Tissue recovery is performed at LifeShare’s dedicated tissue recovery suite located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Once we receive authorization, recovery will take place within a few hours. Once recovery is completed, we take special care of our donors and will return them to the funeral home that you have chosen.
Can we still have a viewing for my loved one’s service?
Absolutely! Tissue donation does not impact viewing. We work closely with all funeral homes in the state of Oklahoma to ensure all family wishes are met. Funeral arrangements are not impacted by tissue donation.
How do I obtain a death certificate?
Death certificates are provided by your funeral home and should be discussed with your funeral home director.
What happens next?
All paperwork needed for your loved one to become a tissue donor is done over the phone. This process takes around 20-30 minutes.